Power supply circuit for actuator of on-board travel control device

ABSTRACT

A power supply circuit is provided in which among various actuators to be controlled, measures are taken for actuators other that one actuator that tend to be influenced by the behavior of the one actuator, in which power is supplied to a plurality of control lines through a single voltage increasing circuit, and which can be manufactured at an economical cost. A power supply circuit is constructed such that power is split from a voltage increasing circuit for increasing an on-board power source voltage and supplied to a plurality of control lines. Power is supplied to a plurality of loads by a driving circuit, the loads are individually driven by activating switches, and a load is driven by a driving circuit. An auxiliary control line is connected to one control line so that auxiliary voltage can be applied. A voltage-holding circuit is provided in the other control line to eliminate influence of the activation of the one control line on the other control line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved power supply circuit for an actuator which is controlled by a travel control device for an automobile.

[0002] In order to ensure safe travel of a vehicle, an antilock control device (ABS) and a vehicle stability control device (ASC) are used. For example, in an ABS control device, actuators such as solenoid valves in a brake hydraulic circuit and an electric motor for a hydraulic pump are opened and closed or turned on and off in response to commands from an electronic control circuit for brake control of vehicle wheels.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 3, heretofore, the line for supplying power to a plurality of loads L₁ and the line for supplying power to the load L₂ are provided as independent lines in which signals generated by switches (SW₁, SW₂) 11 a, 11 b through voltage increasing circuits 10 in power lines from a battery power source are fed to driving circuits 14 a, 14 b through control lines 12 a.

[0004] The electric motor 15 b is activated when the pressure of the brake circuit is increased by a hydraulic pump in a hydraulic circuit during antilock control. On the other hand, the circuit 14 a for supplying power to the solenoid valves 15 a is always in a standby state when the electric motor 15 b is ON. Thus, if a power is supplied through a line common to both, there is a possibility that upon the activation of the line for the electric motor 15 b, one solenoid valve or two may malfunction. In order to avoid this, the two lines are provided independently of each other.

[0005] As described above, in order to prevent any influence of activation and deactivation of the motor on the circuit for supplying an electric power to the solenoid valves 15 a, providing the power lines independently of each other is most effective. But for this purpose, it is necessary to provide a voltage increasing circuit for each line. This is disadvantageous in view of higher cost.

[0006] Thus, it is conceivable to provide a power supply circuit in which a single voltage increasing circuit is provided and the line for supplying power is split into two lines, one to supply power to electromagnetic valves and the other to electric motor. Such a power supply circuit is shown in FIG. 4A. As shown, voltage VB fed from a battery power source is increased in a voltage increasing circuit 10. This voltage supply line is split into two. Signals by SW₁ in one line are input into a driving circuit 14 a (FET transistor) for loads L₁ to supply power to the loads L₁, whereas signals of SW₂ in the other line are input into a driving circuit 14 b (FET transistor) for a load L₂ to supply power to the load L₂.

[0007] The operation of the thus formed power supply circuit is shown in FIG. 4B. When the switch SW₁ is turned on, a signal VG₁ at the input point is input in the driving circuit 14 a, and VG₁ will be VB+increased V, which is supplied to the loads L₁. After a predetermined time, when the switch SW₂ is turned on, a signal VG₂ at the input point is input in the driving circuit 14 b, and VG₂ will be VB+increased V, which is supplied to the load L₂. But the moment the switch SW₂ is turned on, the voltage of the loads L₁ is taken to increase the voltage VG₂ to the load L₂, so that the voltage VG₁ drops sharply. This is the same state as when it is momentarily shut off. But later, VG₁ and VG₂ will increase at substantially the same rate. This is as if SW₁ malfunctions, and means that the activation of the loads L₁ is influenced by the activation of the load L₂.

[0008] An object of this invention is to provide a power supply circuit in which among various actuators to be controlled, measures are taken for one actuator that tends to be influenced by the behavior of other actuator, in which power is supplied to a plurality of control lines through a single voltage increasing circuit, and which can be manufactured at an economical cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to this invention, there is provided a power supply circuit for actuators of an on-board travel control device, comprising driving circuits for driving a plurality of the actuators of the on-board travel control device, a plurality of control lines for feeding control signals to the respective driving circuits, a power circuit having a voltage increasing circuit for supplying power from an on-board power source to the control lines, an auxiliary control line connected to one of the control lines for one actuator which is less likely to be influenced by the activation of the driving circuit for other actuator so that voltage of the on-board power source can be supplied to the auxiliary control line, and a voltage holding circuit provided in the control line for the other actuator to reduce the drop in voltage at the driving circuit for the other actuator.

[0010] With the thus constructed power supply circuit, by supplying a voltage from the on-board power source to an auxiliary control line connected to the control line for the driving circuit for one actuator, it is possible to apply a voltage of the on-board power source to this driving circuit by the time a control signal is fed from the control line for the driving circuit. Thus the difference in voltage when a control signal is fed by turning on the switch in the control line for the driving circuit becomes small. This correspondingly reduces influence even if the control line for the other actuator is being activated.

[0011] Since a voltage-holding circuit is provided in the control line for the other actuator, influence on the control line for the other actuator will decrease further when control signals are fed by the control line for the one actuator. By adding the means for reducing influence on voltage drop in the control line for the other actuator, even if the load is activated by a control signal of the control line for the one actuator through the driving circuit, malfunction is avoided in which due to such influence, the activation of the other actuator stop temporarily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1A is a block diagram of the power supply circuit of an embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 1B is a view explaining the operation of the same;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic control device to which the power supply circuit of FIG. 1A is applied;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional power supply circuit;

[0017]FIG. 4A is a block diagram of another conventional power supply circuit; and

[0018]FIG. 4B is a view explaining the operation of the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] An embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a block diagram of the power supply circuit embodying this invention. The power supply circuit is a circuit for supplying power to a load L₂ such as an electric motor 15 b for an antilock (ABS) control circuit, and to loads L₁ such as solenoid valves 15 a. In the embodiment, the load L₂ is an electric motor 15 b. Such an actuator is a load which requires a large driving current and is less likely to be influenced by other small actuators. It has such properties that once activated, it is kept operated for a predetermined period of time and the intervals between start and stop are relatively long.

[0020] In contrast, the loads L₁ are a plurality of solenoid valves in the embodiment. Such actuators require a small driving current compared to motors, and while the load L₂ is being activated, these loads L₁, too, are kept activated, and repeat on-off actions in a short time interval. While the load L₂ is provided by one, the loads L₁ are usually provided in plural (four in the embodiment). By suitably activating the loads L₁ with a command from an electronic control circuit, the flow of hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit is changed over for antilock control.

[0021] The illustrated power supply circuit supplies power to a plurality of loads L₁ through a power line 17 and drives the load L₂ by giving control signals to control lines 12 a, 12 b through switches SW₁-SW₃ (not shown in FIG. 2) in an electronic control circuit 20 as shown in FIG. 2. For a plurality of loads L₁ as solenoid valves, by individually activating a plurality of switches 16 in the electronic control circuit 20, on-off actions are changed over.

[0022] The power supply circuit has one voltage increasing circuit 10 and supplies a voltage VB from a battery power source to the voltage increasing circuit 10 which comprises a pull-up resistor. The power increased to a predetermined voltage in the circuit 10 is split and supplied to two control lines 12 a, 12 b. A command signal is given to SW₁ inserted in the control line 12 a in the electronic control circuit 20. When a control signal is given to the control line 12 a, it is sent through a voltage-holding circuit 13 comprising a resistor R and a capacitor C to a driving circuit 14 a (having a FET transistor). With this control signal, the driving circuit 14 a supplies a battery power (VB) to a plurality of loads L₁ through the power line 17. The loads L₁ are thus driven by the respective switches 16.

[0023] In the other control line 12 b, a control signal is directly sent to a driving circuit 14 b (FET transistor) through SW₂, so that the load L₂ is driven by battery power (VB) supplied. To the control line 12 b, an auxiliary line 12 b′ is connected. SW₃ is inserted in the auxiliary line 12 b′ so that the battery power (VB) is directly supplied. Both SW₂ and SW₃ are turned on and off by the command signal from the electronic control circuit to generate control signals.

[0024] With the power supply circuit thus constructed, even if the load L₂ is activated while the loads L₁ is being activated, the operation of the loads L₁ will not be influenced. Thus both of the loads will operate normally. As shown in FIG. 1B, if SW₁ is turned on and a control signal of a predetermined voltage is generated by the electronic control circuit 20, the loads L₁ will be driven through the driving circuit 14 a. At this time, a predetermined charge will be stored in the capacitor C in the voltage-holding circuit 13.

[0025] After the voltage supplied to the loads L₁ through the driving circuit 14 a has increased to a predetermined voltage, the command signal for driving the load L₂ is given by first turning SW₃ on for a short time to precharge the control line 12 b through the auxiliary line 12 b′, thereby keeping the voltage at VB. By turning on SW₂ at the moment when SW₃ is turned off, the difference between the voltage supplied to the loads L₁ and the voltage at the supply side is small because the control line 12 b has been precharged to VB beforehand.

[0026] Thus, the influence (voltage drop) on the side of the control line 12 a decreases, and also, to the control line 12 a, a voltage corresponding to the amount of pressure increase is added due to the function of the voltage-holding circuit 13, and a voltage drop due to turning on of SW₂ is small. Thus the power supply to the loads L₁ continues without interruption. This practically avoids the influence from turning on SW₂.

[0027] The abovesaid use condition of the loads L₁ does not mean that the supply of power to the load L₂ begins first, but show preconditions of use after power supply of to the loads L₁ and L₂ has started. In the embodiment, an ABS control circuit is cited as an example of on-board travel control devices. But besides ABS control circuits, there are ASC (Active Stability Control) control circuits, etc. It is a matter of course that the present invention is equally applicable to these other on-board control devices, too.

[0028] As described in detail, the power supply circuit for actuators according to this invention comprises driving circuits for driving a plurality of the actuators of the on-board travel control device, a plurality of control lines for feeding control signals to the respective driving circuits, a power circuit having a voltage increasing circuit for supplying power from an on-board power source through the voltage increasing circuit to the control lines, and an auxiliary control line is connected to one of the control lines for one actuator which is less likely to be influenced by the activation of the driving circuit for other actuator so that voltage of the on-board power source can be supplied to the auxiliary control line. Also, a voltage-holding circuit is provided to reduce voltage drop in the driving circuit for the other actuators to eliminate influence.

[0029] Thus, advantages are obtained that even if the driving circuit is activated in the control line for one actuator while the driving circuit for the other actuator is being activated, there will be no such trouble as temporary deactivation of the driving circuit for the other actuator. Also the power supply circuit can be manufactured at an economical cost. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A power supply circuit for actuators of an on-board travel control device, comprising driving circuits for driving a plurality of the actuators of the on-board travel control device, a plurality of control lines for feeding control signals to said respective driving circuits, a power circuit having a voltage increasing circuit for supplying power from an on-board power source to said control lines, an auxiliary control line connected to one of said control lines for one actuator which is less likely to be influenced by the activation of the driving circuit for other actuator so that voltage of the on-board power source can be supplied to said auxiliary control line, and a voltage holding circuit provided in the control line for the other actuator to reduce the drop in voltage at the driving circuit for the other actuator.
 2. A power supply circuit for actuators of an on-board travel control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of actuators are connected to said driving circuit for the other actuator, and switches are provided for said respective actuators to control the activation of said actuators.
 3. A power supply circuit for actuators of an on-board travel control device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said voltage-holding circuit comprises a resistor and a capacitor.
 4. A power supply circuit for actuators of an on-board travel control device as claimed in any of claims 1-3 wherein the on-board power supply is connected to apply a voltage of the on-board power source to said auxiliary control line. 